Thews



(No Model.)

M. MATTHEWS. PEDAL FOR BIGYCLES, &c.

Patented Feb. 22, 1898.

U/eiffel 7V l/i es@ 35' UNITED STATES- vPNrENr OFFICE,

ONE-HALF TO ALEXANDER JARDINE AND SAME PLACE.

AGNES JARDINE, OF

PEDAL FOR BICYCLES, V80C.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 599,619, dated February 22, 1898. Application filed August 15, 1896. Serial No. 602,882. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, MARMADUKE MAT- THEWs, artist, of the village of Bracondale, in the county of York and Province of Ontario, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Pedals for Bicycles and Similar Vehicles, of .which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to certain improvements in the construction of a pedal described and claimed in application, Serial No. 566,408, filed October 21, 1895; and it consists, essentially, of a 'plate-pedal such as therein described constructed to grip the sides of the sole of the riders shoe instead of gripping the front of the toe.

My invention also consists in the peculiar construction which enables a double pedal to be formed from a singleV plate, and in certain improvements in the spindle, substantially as hereinafter more specifically described and then definitely claimed.

Figure l is a perspective view of a pedal, showing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the pedal-spindle. Fig. 3 is a similar View of a slight modification of the same. Fig. 4 is a sectional elevation showing the lugs on the pedal. v

In the drawings like letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different iigures.

L is a metal plate, preferably of spring-steel. Each end of this plate is curved and shaped to form a ange or foot-rest N, as shown, the flanges being turned in opposite directions, so that whichever side of the pedal is uppermost one of the flanges N will be in the position to receive the forward part of the sole of the riders shoe. Out of each end of the plate L a portion M is stamped by means of a suitable die and turned in the reverse direction to the flange N. This portion thus forms a rearward flange on the pedal, on which the sole of the riders shoe may rest.

From the construction thus described it will be seen that no matter which side of the plate L is uppermost ianges M and N will be in proper position for use.l Each side of one of the anges or foot-rests N is preferably provided with the spring-lugs or gripping-pieces O, which are shaped, as shown in Figs. l and 4, to grip the sides of the sole of the riders shoe when placed in position on the pedal.

Each flange M is preferably toothed, as are the flanges of a rat-trap pedal, to bite on the sole of the shoe.

One of the ilanges N is preferably provided with a single rigid lug P, so that that side of the pedal is suited toa rider who does not wish to use anything in the nature of a toe-clip.

The center of the plate L is bent to fit one side or the other of the casing B of the pedalv spindle A, and the plate Q is placed around the other side of the spindle and clamped to the plate L by means of bolts, screws, or rivets, as shown. It will be noticed that the plate Q is slotted to embrace the raised portion a of the casing B. The plate L is preferably slotted in the same way, though this is not visible in the drawings. With the form of casing shown in Fig. 2 no slotting of the plates is required, as they lie between the two projections b. It is evident that if a single pedal only is required the iiange N on one side of the pedal and the flange M on the other side may be cut away entirely, leaving a single pedal which Will be very light and suitableA for racing. If desired, the plate Q may be extended, as shown in dotted lines, to form a front toe-clip R.

In Figs. 2 and 3 is shown a section of the spindle of my pedal. dle A is formed a cone O. Facing the cone O is the cone D, formed on the sleeve E,which is internally screw-threaded for a short dis-.

tance at one end, so that it may be adjusted upon the spindle A, which is similarly threaded.

On the casing B are formed the cups I and J, which are complementary, respectively, to the cones O and D.

v K are the races of balls running in the bearings formed by the aforesaid cups and cones.

The end of the sleeve E is preferably screwthreaded and screwed into a similarly-threaded hole in the end of the crank F, the shoul- On the end of the spin-v der c being preferably formed on the sleeve to abut upon the said crank.

G is a clamping set-screw having a thread cut thereon running in the opposite direction to the thread on the inside of the sleeve E and screwed into a similarly-threaded hole within the end of the spindle. As shown in the drawings, this set-screw comes in contact with the end of the sleeve E and the crank F and serves not only to clamp the spindle within the sleeve E, but also the sleeve E within the crank F.

His a screw-cap closing the outer end of the casing B. IVhen it is desired to adjust the bearing, the screw-cap H is removed and the clamping set screw G loosened. Then by means of a screw-driver engaging with the slot, preferablyformed in the end of the spindle A, the said spindle may be revolved within the sleeve E, and the distance between the cones C and D thus regulated. Then by tightening up the clamping set-screw G the parts may be securely held as adjusted. It is not essential that the two races of balls be located at opposite ends of the spindle, as they may be set close together, as shown in Fig. 3, or the outer race may be placed under the center of the tread, thus avoiding the enlargement of the extreme outer end of the casing and making a very neat and light spindle.

It will be found upon experiment that a single or double pedal constructed as above is superior in all respects to other pedals now on the market, being lighter, of simpler construction, giving a firmer grip, gaging the tread accurately, obviating the necessity for the use of very rough or sharp teeth and rubber treads. It will also be noticed that the spindle is much shorter than usual, and as the ball-bearings are brought closer together the wear upon them is equalized, whereas in an ordinary spindle the inner bearing, owing to the springing of the spindle, is the first to wear out, and the curving of the spindle deranges the true parallelism of the bearings.

Vhen a pedal is constructed as in Fig. l, the spring-lugs on one side of the pedal are preferably of such a width apart as to suit the ordinary riding-shoe of the user. The other side of the pedal having but one lug will admit of the use of any width of shoe, so that the pedal may be conveniently used by different riders or with shoes of different widths, or, if preferred, both sides of the pedal can be furnished with lugs set at similar or different widths to accommodate different riders. The forward and rear flanges on each side of the pedal are preferably constructed so that their upper surfaces are above the level of the upper surface of the spindle-casing or clamping-plate, so that considerable force must be exerted on the pedal before the sole of the shoe comes in contact with the spindlecasing or clamping-plate. This spring in the pedal will be found to conduce to the comfort of the rider. No trouble will be experienced at any time in engaging the foot with the other side of the pedal, as is apt to be the case when ordinary toe-clips are used.

Objection may be taken by some to the spring-tread on account of lost motion. It is easily seen that the spring is not necessarily employed at high speeds, as the action would then be circular rather than oscillating,power being exerted at all points of the revolution by either a push or pull, and not concentrated in a powerful downward push.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. Ina pedal and in combination with the spindle-casing thereof, a metallic plate having a flange stamped up near its rear end and its front end provided with integral lugs stamped up near the toe, the said plate being secured to the spindle-casing intermediate of said flange and lugs and the said lugs constructed and arranged to grasp the shoe-sole and thus act as a toe-clip, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. In a pedal and in combination with the spindle-casing thereof, a plate rigidly connected to the said casing and stamped out to form at each side thereof a rearward flange for one face of the pedal and a forward flange or foot-rest for the other face of the pedal, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

3. In a pedal, and in combination with the spindle-casing thereof, a plate rigidly connected to the said casing and stamped out to form at each side thereof a rearward flange for one face of the pedal, and a forward flange or foot-rest for the other face of the pedal, one of the forward flanges or foot-rests being provided with lugs to grip the sides of the sole of the riders shoe, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

4. In a pedal and in combination with the spindle-casing thereof, a plate rigidly connected to the said casing and stamped out to form at each side thereof a rearward flange for one face of the pedal and a forward flange or foot-rest for the other face of the pedal, one of the forward flanges on one side being provided with a single lug and that on the other side with two spring-lugs adapted to grip the sides of the sole of the riders shoe, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

5. In a pedal, the combination of a spindle A having a cone C thereon, a sleeve E screwed on said spindle and having a cone D formed thereon, a casing B having one or more races of balls bearing between it and said cones C and D, the said sleeve E having a portion of its exterior screw-threaded, a crank F having a screw-threaded opening into which the sleeve is secured, and a screw G having its stem screwed into said spindle A and having its head engaging with said crank and the end of said sleeve E, whereby the said screw firmly locks the spindle A, its sleeve E and the crank F, substantially as described.

6. In a pedal and in combination with the IOO IIO

IZO

spindle thereof, a plate having a ange proand holding the shoe-sole and acting as a vided near its .rear end and two lugs formed toe-clip, substantially as described. at its front end to engage with the shoe-sole Toronto, August 4, 1896.

near the toe, the said plate being secured to MARMADUKE MATTHEWS. 5 said spindle intermediate ofl said ange and In presence 0flugs, and they latter having their ends bent J. EDW. MAYBEE,

slightly toward each other, thereby grasping FREDK. CLARKE. 

